Page 373 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

CROWS
Order Passeriformes Family Corvidae Species Corvus corax
Raven very thick, long,
arched bill
large head

long, angular,
fingered
wings
all-black plumage
protruding
head
loose
throat
feathers can
be expanded
as beard

wedge IN FLIGHT
or diamond-
shaped tail
long tail
he world’s largest crow,
Tthe Raven is a heavier,
longer-winged, and longer-
tailed bird than the Carrion
Crow. Its heavier, longer bill is evident at close range.At long range,
it is best identified by its shape, manner of flight, calls, and often the
situation that it is in. Ravens are often found over the wildest and FLIGHT: bold, strong, acrobatic, wings often angled;
craggiest country, even over high, barren peaks, although unique roll onto back and back again; soars easily.
they also frequent softer, wooded or farmed land where
Carrion Crows are equally likely. Where they are
unmolested they may be seen flying over coastal towns,
and rarely they even nest on tall buildings.
VOICE Important clue: loud, abrupt, echoing crronk crronk
crronk or prruk prruk, metallic tonk; various clicking,
rattling or quiet musical notes, sometimes in rambling
subsong audible at close range.
NESTING Huge nest of thick sticks, wool, grass, and
heather, used for many years, under overhang on cliff, or
in tall tree; 4–6 eggs; 1 brood; February–May.
FEEDING Eats almost anything; catches small mammals
and birds, eats meat from dead sheep and road-killed LARGE HEAD
rabbits; forages for scraps on shore or at refuse tips; eats The feathers of the crown, chin, and throat can be raised to
invertebrates and grain. exaggerate the size of a Raven’s head.
SIMILAR SPECIES
OCCURRENCE
CARRION CROW ROOK In most of Europe except lowland
different call; see p.369
see p.370 slimmer thin Britain, France, Low Countries,
squarer bill bill and east to Denmark; year-round
tail resident in large forests, mountain
smaller regions, open moorland, and hills
smaller
with crags and isolated trees.
Seen in the UK
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 54–67cm (21 1 ⁄2 –26in) Wingspan 1.2–1.5m (4–5ft) Weight 0.8–1.5kg (1 3 ⁄4 –2 1 ⁄4lb)
Social Pairs/Small flocks Lifespan 10–15 years Status Secure†
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